The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) established a new political system unifying the six colonies into the nation that came into being on 1 January 1901. The Commonwealth Parliament is one of the three branches of government established by the Constitution—the others being the Executive Government and the Judicature. The Commonwealth Parliament is bicameral, the Senate and the House of Representatives being its two legislative houses. During the constitutional debates of the 1890s, there was general agreement that the political system would follow the principles of ‘responsible government’ which the Australian colonies had inherited from Great Britain. This meant that the holders of government office—the Executive or Ministry—would be responsible to the people’s elected representatives, and their tenure of office would be dependent upon retention of the confidence of the lower house. Accordingly, the House of Representatives has been conventionally accepted as the house of which the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are members. Apart from the British principles of responsible government, the Australian Constitution established a federal political system very much like the US model. The federal structure was seen as the best basis for uniting the six colonies, because it protected much of the political autonomy of the States. The Constitution specified the powers of the Parliament; powers not so specified remained the responsibility of the States.

The Governor-General

Section 1 of the Constitution describes the Commonwealth Parliament as consisting of the Sovereign (or Sovereign’s representative in the Governor-General), the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Governor-General is appointed by the Sovereign, upon the advice of the Australian Prime Minister, and exercises the following powers with respect to the Parliament:

â¢ the appointment of times for parliamentary sessions (one session at least must be held every twelve months)

â¢ the prorogation or dissolution of Parliament

â¢ the appointment of the ministry

â¢ the declaration of Royal Assent to legislation passed by Parliament.

Senate

The Senate has 76 members. Each State elects 12 Senators, who are elected from a State-wide electorate. Equality of State representation was designed to protect the smaller States against those with larger populations. Two Senators are elected from each of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The number of Senators has increased from an original total of 36 (six per State), to 60 in 1949 (ten per State), to 64 in 1974 (including the four Territory Senators), and then to 76 in 1984 (12 per State and the four from the Territories).

Two features are designed to give the Senate a degree of independence from the House of Representatives. The first is a longer term of office for State Senators—twice the maximum term of the Members of the House of Representatives. The second is the rotation of terms, whereby half the Senators for each State retire at 30 June every three years. Territory Senators’ terms are tied to the terms of Members of the House of Representatives.

Since 1949, the voting method for the Senate has been proportional representation. The combined effect of proportional representation, declining major party loyalties of voters, and an increase in the number of parties and groups contesting

elections, has made it increasingly difficult for any government to obtain a majority in the Senate. For details of party representation in the Senate from 1901 see the tables on pp. .

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives currently has 150 members elected from single-member electorates. The Constitution requires that the number of Members must be, ‘as nearly as practicable’, twice that of the number of (State) Senators. This means that any substantial change in the size of the House of Representatives must parallel a change in the size of the Senate. Two such changes have been made, and took effect at the 1949 and 1984 elections. Variations in House numbers can occur due to changes in the States’ and Territories’ entitlements. Between 1901 and 1949 there were either 74 or 75 Members; between 1949 and 1984 the number ranged from 121 to 127; since 1984 the number has ranged from 147 to 150 Members. On almost all occasions the government of the day has controlled the House. For details of party representation in the House from 1901 see the tables on pp. .

Legislation

Most Bills examined by Parliament are introduced by the government in the House of Representatives. Section 53 of the Constitution imposes limitations on the power of the Senate over financial matters. Proposed laws appropriating revenue for the ordinary annual services of the government, or imposing taxation, can be introduced only in the House of Representatives. The Senate may not amend such legislation, nor may it amend any proposed law so as to increase any proposed charge or (financial) burden on the people. The matters upon which Parliament may legislate are specified in section 51 of the Constitution.

Legislative conflict

The Senate may reject any Bill. Section 57 of the Constitution provides a method for the resolution of any deadlock which may occur from the failure of the Senate to pass a Bill that has been passed by the House of Representatives. Under certain specified conditions, the Governor-General may dissolve both houses, and issue the writs for elections for all House of Representatives and Senate seats. Such simultaneous (double dissolution) elections have been held in 1914, 1951, 1974, 1975, 1983 and 1987. If, after a double dissolution, disputed legislation is again rejected, it can be put to a joint sitting of both houses. The only such joint sitting was held after the 1974 double dissolution election.

The government

By convention, the Governor-General commissions the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives to form a government. It is the practice to include a number of Senators in the ministry.

The Third Howard Government was sworn in on 26 November 2001. For full details of the ministry see pp. 26-28.

Parliament’s various locations

The first Parliament was opened in Melbourne on 9 May 1901 in the Exhibition Building. Under an agreement between the Commonwealth and the Victorian governments, the Commonwealth Parliament met in the Victorian Parliament House from 1901 to 1927, during which time the Victorian Parliament was housed in the Exhibition Building. This had been planned as a temporary arrangement, but the Commonwealth Parliament did not meet in the provisional Parliament House in Canberra until 9 May 1927.

In 1988 the Parliament moved to its permanent building on Capital Hill. The building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II

on 9 May 1988, and the first sittings in the new building took place on 22 August 1988. The centenary of the Parliament was celebrated in the Exhibition Building and the Victorian Parliament on 9 and 10 May 2001.

Sitting periods

The Commonwealth Parliament must meet at least once each year. Before 1994 there were traditionally two sitting periods: Autumn (FebruaryâJune) and Budget (AugustâDecember). Since 1994 there have been three sittings each calendar year: Autumn (FebruaryâMarch), Budget (MayâJune), and Spring (AugustâDecember). The earlier arrangement may be reverted to when the electoral cycle makes a May budget impracticable. The following table shows the number of sitting days per decade for each House and the number of Acts passed:

Sitting days

Decade H of R Senate Acts passed

1901â1910 949 712 323

1911â1920 708 514 401

1921â1930 674 508 465

1931â1940 584 426 751

1941â1950 700 421 725

1951â1960 626 451 955

1961â1970 623 589 1 198

1971â1980 687 707 1 733

1981â1990 597 755 1 713

1991â2000 648 730 1 773

The following table shows the number of sitting days and number of Acts passed for each year for the ten years prior to the 2001 election:

Sitting days

Year H of R Senate Acts passed

1992 60 76 255

1993* 46 53 121

1994 68 80 184

1995 70 78 176

1996* 61 71 84

1997 76 82 222

1998* 54 57 135

1999 73 79 206

2000 73 71 174

2001* 56 52 169

*denotes election year

The basis for the statistics on the number of Acts passed per annum is that of the total of numbered Acts of Parliament for each calendar year.

Committees

The purpose of parliamentary committees is mainly to conduct inquiries into specified matters, which includes taking submissions, hearing witnesses, sifting evidence, discussing matters in detail and formulating reasoned conclusions. Committees are a convenient vehicle for this activity and, by concentrating on specific tasks or subjects, also offer the benefits of specialisation.

An important function of committees is to scrutinise government activity including legislation, the conduct of public administration and policy issues. Committees may oversee the expenditure of public money and they may call the government or the public service to account for their actions and ask them to explain or justify administrative decisions.

A parliamentary committee consists of a group of Members or Senators (or both in the case of joint committees) appointed by one or both Houses of Parliament. Through its committees the Parliament obtains information from government agencies and peak bodies and advice from experts on the matters under investigation.

Public input is also important. Through its committees Parliament is able to be better informed of community problems and attitudes. Committees provide a public forum for the presentation of the various views of individual citizens and interest groups.

More information about the committees of Parliament can be found in the following documents:

The Main Committee is essentially a debating committee. It is commonly referred to as the ‘second chamber’ of the House of Representativesââa title more indicative of its role, and one which it has been recommended should be formally adopted. The Main Committee is an extension of the Chamber of the House, operating in parallel to allow two streams of business to be debated concurrently. It does not undertake inquiries or hear evidence as the standing committees do. Its debates are recorded in Hansard and the minutes of its proceedings are included in the Vo tes and Proceedings of the House. The Main Committee meets in the largest of the House of Representatives committee rooms. This room has been dedicated to its role and is furnished as a small-scale chamber incorporating the U-shaped seating configuration used in the Chamber of the House.

For more information see Main Committee, House of Representatives Infosheet No. 12, www.aph.gov.au/house/info/infosheets/ is16.pdf

Parliamentary debates (Hansard)

Parliamentary debates are recorded and are published by the Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff. The Debates, or Hansard , contain the full text of speeches, petitions, notices of motion, questions on notice and the answers thereto, questions without notice, and requests made to the Presiding Officers for detailed information concerning the Parliament. The official record of the proceedings of the House of Representatives is the Vo tes and Proceedings, and that of the Senate is the Journals of the Senate.

Parliamentary information on the Internet

The Parliament of Australia home page is found at: www.aph.gov.au/ This contains links to the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Department of the Parliamentary Library and the Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff. From this page users may gain access to the Notice Papers and the Debates for both houses, and the Journals of the Senate and the Votes and Proceedings , Committee Hansards and other parliamentary information.

The Department of the Parliamentary Library home page is at www.aph.gov.au/library/ Much of the current and historical information contained in the Parliamentary Handbook is available on this site. The full texts of the Department of the Parliamentary Library’s publications are available, and there are also subject guides to Internet resources.

Since 1946, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has broadcast each parliamentary sitting day on radio, with each house being broadcast on alternate days. Question Time for the chamber not broadcast on any day is broadcast during the other chamber’s dinner break. Broadcasts can be heard on the ABC’s Parliamentary and News Network radio stations.

Televised proceedings were introduced gradually, with televised broadcasts being initially limited to the official opening ceremony of Parliament and other special occasions by resolution. Approved film footage, or sound recording with approved film excerpts, was permitted in news services. Televising of proceedings was authorised by the Senate in 1990 and by the House in 1991. Question Time is televised live, with each House being broadcast on alternate days, and footage of proceedings able to be used in news and current affairs programs.

From 1999 live broadcasts of proceedings have been available on the Internet.

His Excellency the Right Reverend Dr Peter John Hollingworth, AC, OBE Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Peter Hollingworth was born on 10 April 1935 in Adelaide. Both his parents grew up in South Australia, his mother belonging to one of the State’s pioneering families. In 1941, the family settled in East Malvern in Victoria where he attended the Lloyd Street and Murrumbeena State Schools, before going to Scotch College and then taking on a commercial cadetship with BHP. During his National Service in 1953, Peter was drafted to the Padre’s Office as secretary and found his vocation to the priesthood. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Licentiate of Theology, having resided at Trinity College. He met his future wife Ann while still on National Service and married in 1960. The Hollingworths have three daughters, Deborah, Fiona and Sarah, and four grandchildren.

After completing his studies, Peter became Deacon-in-Charge and then Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s, North Melbourne as part of an innovative inner city team ministry. Four years later, he was appointed as Chaplain to the Brotherhood of St Laurence where he served for a total of 25 years in a range of different positions, ultimately as Executive Director. During this period, he completed a Diploma of Social Studies and Master of Arts Degree in Social Work at Melbourne University and wrote several books based on his experiences working with the poor and disadvantaged. He was elected Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1980 and consecrated Bishop in the Inner City in 1985. He was elected Archbishop of Brisbane and Metropolitan of Queensland in 1989 where he served until 2001. From 1965 to that time he served on many social action and social welfare committees at both local and national levels. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1976 and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988, following his Chairmanship of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (IYSH) National NGO Committee. He was Australian of the Year for 1992, during which he promoted the cause of the young unemployed. On 22 May 2001, Peter received the Lambeth Degree of Doctor of Letters from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, for his work in the area of Christian Social Ethics and Social Welfare. Dr Peter Hollingworth was sworn in as Australia’s 23rd Governor-General on 29 June 2001. Upon being sworn in, he became the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Australia.

President of the Senate CALV ERT, Senator the Honourable Paul Henry President of the Senate from 19.8.2002.

Born 19.1.1940, Hobart, Tasmania.

Educated at South Arm Primary School; The Friend’s School, Hobart.

Prior to entering Parliament, Senator Calvert was an orchardist and wool grower, and held a number of local government positions in the Municipality of Clarence from 1976 to 1987. He was also President of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania from 1987 to 1990.

Senator Calvert was elected to represent Tasmania in the Senate on 11 July 1987. He was re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2001. Senator Calvert was Deputy Government Whip in the Senate from 1996 to 1997 and Government Whip in the Senate from 1997 to 2002. He was elected President of the Senate on 19 August 2002.

* As at 31.8.2002. † Indicates date of expiry of Senator’s term of service is 30.6.2005. ‡

Indicates date of expiry of Senator’s term of service is 30.6.2008. § Pursuant to the Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973 , a Senator’s term of service expires at the close of the day next preceding the polling day for the general election of Members of the House of Representatives.

* Indicates date of expiry of Senator’s term of service is 30.6.2005. † Indicates date of expiry of Senator’s term of service is 30.6.2008. ‡

Pursuant to the Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973 , a Senator’s term of service expires at the close of the day next preceding the polling day for the general election of Members of the House of Representatives.

ANDREW, the Honourable John Neil Speaker of the House of Representatives from 10.11.1998.

Born 7.6.1944, Waikerie, South Australia. Educated at Waikerie Primary and High Schools; Urrbrae Agricultural College; Australian Nuffield Scholar in Agriculture 1975.

Prior to entering Parliament, Mr Andrew worked as a horticulturalist. He also served as a member of various local government and community groups.

Mr Andrew was elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Wakefield in South Australia at the federal election on 5 March 1983. He was subsequently re-elected in 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2001.

He was Deputy Chair of Committees in 1985, 1989â90 and 1993â94 and was a Member of the Speaker’s Panel from 1994. Mr Andrew chaired the Public Works Committee in 1996â97 and served as Chief Government Whip in 1997â98. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on 10 November 1998.

* As at 31.8.2002. Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold type. As a general rule, there is one department in each portfolio. Except for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the title of each department reflects that of the portfolio minister. There is also a Department of Veterans’ Affairs in the Defence portfolio.

Joint Committees Joint Statutory Committees ASIO, ASIS and DSD Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings Corporations and Financial Services National Crime Authority Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund Public Accounts and Audit Public Works